1. Energy Flow in the Environment
Sunlight is the main energy source for a life on earth
Side note: In a few ecosystems, some organisms obtain energy from inorganic chemicals. Where can we find examples of these ecosystems?
Ocean Vents with no sunlight

2. Two Different Types of Nutrition
Autotroph (self nutrition)
An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy.

3. Autotrophs Organisms that make their own food
Examples: Plants, Algae & some bacteria
(Cyanobacteria aka: blue-green algae)
They are also know as producers
They begin all food chains and are essential for the flow of energy through the environment

4. Energy is used to Synthesize Molecules
Photosynthesis- harnessing solar energy to produce food.
Chemosynthesis- use chemical energy to produce food

6. Chemosynthesis
Bacteria live in the mussel and make excess food, which the mussel uses for respiration.

7. Blue-Green Algae
Return

8. Heterotroph
Organism that rely on other organisms for their energy
Also called consumers because they must “eat”

9. Types of Consumers Herbivores
Obtain energy by eating only plants
Also called Primary Consumers; they are the first to eat.

10. Carnivores Feed on other animals
Scavenger – Feeds off pre-killed animals
Predator- Hunts and kills prey

11. Carnivores cont. Parasite- Feed off of a living organism. (host)
Omnivore- Eat both plant and animal

12. Decomposers
Break down organic matter by recycling nutrients back to soil and air
Bacteria, Fungus

13. Energy Flow
Energy flows through the environment in one direction, through a series of steps.
Sun autotrophs heterotrophs decomposers
Arrows show direction of energy movement

14. Energy Flow-2
Energy flow can be represented in three different ways
Food chains
Food webs
Ecological pyramids

15. Food Chain Shows the transfer of energy though an ecosystem Autotroph
Producer
Plant
Clover
Heterotroph
Herbivore
10 Consumer
Animal
Deer
Heterotroph
Carnivore
20 Consumer
Animal
Wolf .

16. Food Chain
Shark
Squid
Small fish
Zooplankton
Algae
100 cal./g
10 cal./g
1 cal./g
0.1 cal./g
1000 cal/unit
Only about 10% of the energy is able to move. The rest is used for life and lost as heat to the environment

17. Food Web

18. Notice that the amount of matter decreases. As you move up50
kg of
human tissue
500
kg of chickens
5000
kg of Grain
Food Pyramid
Notice that the amount of matter decreases. As you move up